An input device contains a resistance-element series formed by series-connected resistance elements, low resistors opposing the resistance elements, an operating object which brings one of the low resistors into contact with one of the resistance elements and changes the contact area therebetween, an output point at the midpoint between resistance elements, and a controller. When the resistance element and low resistor are not in contact, the input device enters a sleep mode in which the resistance-element series or low resistors have a high potential and the other a low potential. In the sleep mode, determination that the operating object has been operated occurs when a change in voltage or current on the low potential side is detected. A voltage is applied across ends of the resistance-element series, and the device enters a detection mode in which the output is based on the contact area change.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. An input device comprising: at least one resistance-element series, formed by a plurality of resistance element groups connected in series; each resistance element group formed as a fixed resistive element and a corresponding deformable resistive element, the deformable resistive element oriented to face the fixed resistance element; an operating object which brings a respective deformable resistance element into contact with the corresponding fixed resistance element and which changes the contact area therebetween; an output point provided at a midpoint between two resistance element groups; and a controller in which: (a) for respective resistance element groups, when the fixed resistance element and the corresponding deformable resistance element are not in contact, said controller enters a sleep mode and sets one of the fixed resistive element and deformable resistive element to have a high potential, and sets the other of the fixed resistive element and deformable resistive element to have a low potential; (b) in the sleep mode, said controller monitors the occurrence of a change in voltage or current on a low potential side, and, when a change is detected, said controller determines that the operating object has been operated; (c) after the determination of the change, said controller applies a voltage across the ends of the resistance-element series, and sets a detection mode for obtaining, from the output point, an output based on a change in contact area between the respective fixed resistive element and deformable resistive element a switching unit for switching a power-supply voltage that, in the sleep mode, sets the ends of the at least one resistance-element series to have the same power-supply voltage and that, in detection mode, causes the ends of the at least one resistance-element series to have a potential difference; and at least one input unit provided on the deformable resistance element side of each the plurality of resistance element groups that, by detecting a change in potential applied to the input unit, monitors whether a change in voltage or current occurs on the deformable resistance element side of each of the resistance element groups.
2. The input device according to claim 1 , wherein the number of resistance-element series is more than one, and the resistance-element series are connected in parallel.
3. The input device according to claim 2 , wherein: each resistance element group comprises two resistance elements; the number of resistance-element series is two and the two resistance-element series are connected in parallel; the resistance element groups are disposed at intervals in two directions perpendicular to each other; and the operating object is used to move each respective deformable resistive element which faces the corresponding fixed resistive element.
4. The input device according to claim 1 , wherein: in the sleep mode, the ends of the resistance-element series are set to have high potentials, and each respective deformable resistive element is set to have a low potential, and by detecting a change in potential or current in the respective resistive element group, said controller determines whether or not the operating object has been operated; and in the detection mode, each respective deformable resistive element is set to have a high impedance.
5. The input device according to claim 1 , wherein: in the sleep mode, the ends of the resistance-element series are set to have low potentials, each respective deformable resistive element is set to have a high potential, and, by detecting a change in potential or current in the respective resistive element group, said controller determines that the operating object has been operated.
6. The input device according to claim 1 , wherein, in the detection mode, when one respective fixed resistive element and corresponding deformable resistive element are not in contact, a voltage obtained from the output point is stored as a reference value.
7. The input device according to claim 6 , wherein the voltage obtained from the output point is used to update the reference value at regular time intervals.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
August 2, 2004
October 28, 2008
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